Amusement ride apparatus



Filed Aug. 20. 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl 6. l',

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AMUSEMENTRIDE APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20; 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN F COURTNEY wmw flTTOR/VEY J. F. COURTNEY 2,847,216

AMUSEMENT RIDE APPARATUS Aug. 12, 1958 Filed Aug. 20. 1956 INVENTOR. JOHN E COURTNEY ATTORNEY Aug. 12, 1958 J. F. COURTNEY 2,847,216

AMUSEMENT RIDE APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20. 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fl 6. 7. 74 F: 6. 8. 75

INVENTOR. JOHN F COURTNEY AMUSEMENT RIDE APPARATUS John F. Courtney, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 20, 1956, Serial No. 604,924

6 Claims. (Cl. 272-36) This invention relates to amusement ride apparatus.

A primary object of the invention is to provide amusement ride apparatus embodying a rotating wheel to carry the passengers in one direction, and a rotating support for the wheel which imparts a separate and second motion to the passengers simultaneously with that imparted to them by said wheel.

A further object is to provide an amusement ride apparatus of the above-mentioned character which is of novel and simplified construction, and having for one of its principal features the elimination of the central vertical supporting column structure of conventional Ferris wheels and like ride devices.

A further object is to provide an amusement ride apparatus which is bodily mounted upon a mobile trailer bed, and including means cooperating with the trailer bed to support the apparatus in an upright or operative position.

Another object is to provide an amusement ride device of the above-mentioned character having an improved and simplified supporting structure, and built-in power means to facilitate erecting or raising the supporting structure and the rotating wheel carried thereby.

A still further object is to provide an amusement ride apparatus which is collapsible or foldable in a novel manner so as to lie in compact form upon the supporting a trailer bed during transportation and/ or storage.

A further object is to provide aride apparatus of the mentioned type, so constructed that two passenger seats of the rotating wheel may be loaded or unloaded simultaneously.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an amusement ride apparatus embodying the present invention, with parts omitted for the purpose of simplification,

Figure 2 is a further side elevation at right angles to Figure l and showing an associated step or ramp construction to facilitate the passengers boarding the ride apparatus,

Figure 3 is a plan view of a turntable construction and support with the superstructure of the apparatus removed for the purpose of simplification,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus in collapsed or folded position for transporting,

Figure 5 is a central vertical section taken on line 5--5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3,

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary edge elevation of the rotating wheel and supporting means,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same,

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a rotating wheel friction drive unit and associated elements,

;:. Patent U M Figure 10 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 10-10 of Figure 3,

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a turntable wheel and associated elements similar to the showing in Figure 6,

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 12-12 of Figure 6.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 15 designates generally a flat type truck trailer bed of generally conventional construction, to be drawn by the usual tractor unit, not shown. The trailer bed 15' embodies a pair of main horizontal longitudinal beams 16, as shown. A horizontal circular sectional track 17 is associated with the trailer 15 to support the apparatus in the upright or operative position. This track 17 comprises a plurality of curved track sections 18, arranged in end-toend relation and detachably rigidly connected by fish plates 19, as shown in Figure 12. Diametrically opposed track sections 18 rest directly upon the beams 16, Figure 2, and the intermediate track sections 18 are supported at the proper elevation by a plurality of vertically adjustable jacks Zil, as shown. Any preferred number of jacks may be employed, and the same are readily portable and are not permanently attached to the track 17 or other parts of the apparatus.

Adjacent their points of connection, Figure 12, the track sections are braced in assembly by pairs of generally radial brace bars 2f, having their outer ends detachably rigidly secured at 22 to apertured lugs 23 formed upon the fish plates 19. The inner ends of the brace bars 21 are detachably rigidly secured to brackets 24, Figure 6, in turn rigidly secured to the trailer beams 16 as indicated. The brace bars 2i thus lie in the horizontal plane of the circular track 17 and together form an X-brace for the track as shown in Figure 3. The braces 21 are of course readily detachable from the individual track sections 18 and from the brackets 24, and the track sections are separable for transportation purposes, as will be further described.

The apparatus further comprises a horizontal turntable construction for rotation about a fixed vertical axis. This turntable comprises a pair of main parallel horizontal beams 25, rigidly connected near their longitudinal centers by rigid cross members 26, welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. A short vertical tubular shaft 27 is journalled for rotation in a conventional selfaligning radial bearing 28, fixedly mounted within an annular socket 2?, rigidly secured as by welding, to the trailer bed 15, centrally thereof, Figures 3 and 6. Bearing 28 is held against upward displacement by a ring 2%, removably rigidly mounted within the upper portion of the socket 2%. The shaft 27 projects above and below the trailer bed 15, Figure 6, and is equipped near its lower end with a plurality of electrical collector rings 30, to be used for making the necessary electrical connections for lights, etc. Near and below the bottom of the socket 29, the shaft 27 carries a safety collar 30', detachably rigidly secured thereto, and serving to prevent upward displacement of the rotary shaft 27 and associated elements. The trailer bed 15 may further include upper and lower horizontal plates 30a and 30b, suitably rigidly secured thereto, and these plates have aligned central openings receiving the socket 29, and the socket is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the plates 30a and 30b. 1

The top of the shaft 27 projects just above the tops of beams 25 and has an annular flange 31 rigidly secured thereto by welding or the like. Beneath the flange 31 and between itand the tops of the beams 25 is a relatively broad rectangular plate 32, resting upon and supthereto as by Welding. A similar plate 33' is mounted upon the bottoms of cross members 26, directly below the plate 32, Figure 6. The plates 32 and 33 have central openings receiving the vertical shaft 27. Vertical bolts 32 serve to rigidly connect the flange 31 with the plates 32 and 33, as shown, and by this means, the shaft 27 is secured against rotation relative to the platform embodying the beams 25. The shaft 27 is freely rotatable with the turn table within the self-aligning hearing 23, which bearing serves to center the entire turntable and impart to it a fixed vertical axis of rotation. The bearing 28 does not, however, support the weight of the shaft 27 and the turntable, as will be more apparent as the description proceeds. The entire weight of the turntable, including the vertical shaft 27 and all associated elements is imparted directly to the horizontal track 17, by means to be described.

The bottoms of the beams 25 are spaced just above the track 17, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. The beams of the turntable the further rigidly connected near their opposite ends by pairs of spaced transverse bars 33, carrying between them friction drive unit support plates 34, rigidly secured thereto.

Rigidly mounted upon each support plate 34 is an individual friction drive unit 35 for the turntable, including a motor 36, and gear type speed reducer 37, operatively connected therewith as shown in Figure 3. The speed reducer 37 of each unit 35 drives a rubber tired wheel 38, said wheel operating in a vertical plane and having its lower part projecting through a slot 39 in the support plate 34 and frictionally engaging the top of circular track 17, as clearly shown in Figure 5. The friction drive units 35 are diametrically oppositely disposed as shown in Figure 3. Arranged upon opposite sides of each friction drive wheel 38 is a pair of idler wheels 40, freely rotatably mounted within fixed bearings 41 on the support plate 34 and also projecting through slots in the plate 34 and engaging upon the top of the annular track 17. The purpose of the wheels or rollers 40 is to prevent tilting or swaying of the turntable construction, and the arrangement of the drive units 35 at diametrically opposite points afi'ords balance for the turntable and eliminates swaying or deflecture of the same.

The turntable further comprises a pair of aligned radial arms 42, spaced ninety degrees from the drive units 35 and being horizontally disposed in the plane of the beams 25 and associated parts and having their inner ends detachably rigidly secured within sockets 43 carried by the outer sides of the beams 25 at their longitudinal centers. The outer ends of the arms 42 terminate adjacent the track 17, and the arms have wheels or rollers 44 suitably journaled upon their outer ends for free rotation, the rollers 44 engaging upon the track 17, midway between the drive wheels 38 to give stability to the turntable construction, as the same rotates about the fixed axis of the central vertical shaft 27. Pairs of diagonal braces 45 have their outer ends detachably rigidly secured to the outer ends of the arms 42, and their opposite ends detachably rigidly secured to lugs 46, rigidly secured to the outer sides of the beams 25 near the ends of the latter.

It is thus seen that a low substantially flat turntable construction is provided, just above the stationary track 17 for rotation in a horizontal plane about the fixed vertical axis of the rotary shaft 27, which is journaled within the fixed bearing 28 of the trailer bed 15. The track 17 thus supports the entire Weight of the turntable construction, including the beams 25, shaft 27 and associated elements, and the bearing 28 serves only to center the turntable during its rotation and does not support its weight.

As best shown in Figure 5, the turntable drive units 35 are normally covered by removable housings 47 for the sake of safety. These housings are omitted in the other views, in order to simplify the drawings. Also, the beams 25 and the space therebetween are covered with removable flooring 48 of sheet metal or the like so as to form a platform for passengers upon the turntable below the rotary wheel to be described. This flooring 43 has likewise been omitted from certain of the figures of the drawings for the purpose of simplification.

The apparatus further comprises a foldable super structure or support for the passenger carrying wheel. The super structure comprises pairs of spaced opposed upstanding webs 49, rigidly secured to the tops of the turntable beams 25 near corresponding ends of the same. Relatively short inclined leg sections 50 extend above the beams 25 at the opposite ends of the same, and the lower ends of the leg sections 50 are suitably rigidly anchored to the beams 25, as by welding or the like. The inclined leg sections 50 may be further strengthened by means of fixed vertical braces 51, having their lower ends rigidly secured to the beams 25. The superstructure further comprises a pair of elongated parallel inclined rigid legs or members 52 having their lower ends pivoted at 53 between the pairs of fixed webs 49. Near their remote ends, the legs 52 have depending apertured lugs 54 rigidly secured thereto, and a companion pair of inclined leg sections or members 55 have their upper ends pivoted at 56 to the lugs 54 of legs 52. The lowermost ends of the leg sections 55 are detachably rigidly secured at 57 to the tops of the stationary leg sections when the apparatus is in the upright or operative position. The respective leg sections 52 and are in the same vertical planes directly above the horizontal beams 25 and associated elements.

To render the superstructure more rigid and to prevent the inclined legs from swaying laterally, a central pair of diagonal braces 52% is provided, and each brace 58 has its upper end detachably rigidly secured within a socket 59, permanently rigidly secured by welding or the like to the outer side of the adjacent leg section 32. The lowermost end of each brace 53 is detachably rigidly secured at 60 to the Outer end of the adjacent horizontal arm 42, the arms 42 and the braces 53 being in the same vertical planes.

In order to facilitate raising and lowering the inclined legs 52 and associated parts, a pair of extensible jack devices 61 are arranged below the legs 52 and have their lower ends pivoted at 62 between the pairs of webs 49. The upper ends of the jack devices are pivotally secured at 63 to depending lugs rigidly mounted upon the lower sides of the legs 52 somewhat above their lower ends. The jack devices 61 may be conventional hydraulic jacks with closed or built-in hydraulic systems, of a type in which a handle, not shown, may be oscillated for extending the jacks to their position shown in Figure I. By this means, the legs 52 may be conveniently elevated from their collapsed or folded positions to be described, and the jack devices 61 save a great deal of time-consuming manual labor with block and tackle or the like.

A pair of wheel mounting brackets 64 are rigidly secured to the tops of the inclined legs 52. near the upper ends of the latter, by means of bolts 65 or the like. These brackets include elevated axially aligned hub portions 66, integral therewith, receiving a transverse horizontal rotatable shaft 67 which is freely journaled therein, the shaft 67 extending between the legs 52.

inwardly of the brackets 64 pairs of spaced vertica discs 68 are rigidly secured to the shaft or axle 67 for rotation therewith. A plurality of opposed pairs of radial spokes 69 are provided, and the inner ends of the spokes in each opposed pair are pivoted at 70 between the discs 68 of the adjacent pair of discs. Two diametrically opposed pairs of spokes 69, Figure 8, have their inner end portions fixedly anchored between the pairs of discs 68 by pairs of bolts 70', or the like,

whereby the particular spokes 69'- cannot pivot or swing about their inner ends relative to the discs 68 when the wheel is folded, as will be described. The pairs of spokes 69 and 69 are equidistantly spaced circumferentially of the discs. 68 and radiate therefrom for substantial equal distances to form parts of the passenger carrying wheel. Near and inwardly of the outer ends of the pairs of spokes, annular drive rails 71 are rigidly secured to the outer sides of the spokes in each pair. Each annular rail 71 is formed in a plurality of curved sections 72, arranged in end-to-end relation in assembly. Adjacent pairs of the rail sections 72 are detachably rigidly connected to each other and to the adjacent pair of spokes 69 as indicated generally at 73 in Figure 8. The annular drive rails 71 are channel-shaped incross section, and are arranged just inwardly of the legs 52 and 55 and between such legs and the several spokes. The spokes 69 project radially beyond the peripheries of the rails 71, and each pair of spokes has a passenger carrying seat 74 pivotally connected therebetween, as at '75. The seats 74 are readily detachable from the spokes 69, and are freely swingable upontheir pivots 75 so as to remain upright when the wheel rotates. The seats 74 are disposed bodily outwardly beyond the peripheries of the rails 71, as indicated. Each opposed pair of spokes is preferably interconnected near their inner and outer ends by cross braces 76 and 77, and diagonal brace rods or wires 78 having turnbuckles 79 connected therein may also be provided for each pair of spokes, to render the passenger carrying wheel more rigid.

it is desired to emphasize that the construction as above described dispenses entirely with the usual vertical center column structure commonly found in Ferris wheels and similar amusement ride apparatus. It should likewise be pointed out that the arrangement of the seats 74 is such that two seats may be serviced at one time while the wheel is stationary, and the particular pair of seats is adjacent the platform or floor 48 of the turntable. in this connection, the platform or flooring 48 will be provided with suitable side extensions, not shown, to receive the passengers who walk up the step or ramp devices 88 from the ground, while the turntable is at rest and while the platform 48 is extending longitudinally between the ramp devices 80. Any desired type of portable ramp or step construction may be employed with the ride apparatus, and it is intended not to limit the invention in any way with respect to this.

A pair of identical friction drive units 81 for the passenger carrying wheel is bodily mountedv in side-byside relation upon the two legs 52 at points just outside of the peripheries of the rails 71. Each unit 81 comprises a motor 82 and connected speed reducer 83, both rigidly mounted directly upon the adjacent arm 52, as indicated. A rubber tired friction drive wheel 84 for each unit is driven by the speed reducer 33 and has its periphery frictionally engaging the adjacent channel rail 71, as shown. The drive units 81 are preferably adjustable somewhat bodily toward and from the rail 71, to thereby adjust the friction between the rail and the driving wheel 84. The motors 82 of the units 81 may be synchronized to run at the same speed, and so may the motors 36 of the turntable drive units 35.

As shown in Figure 1, at points directly opposite the drive units 81, a pair of rubber tired idler wheels 85 having frictional engagement with the annular rails 71 may be journaled for rotation within bearings 86, fixedly mounted upon the leg sections 55, just beyond the peripheries of the rails 71. These idler wheels 85 stabilize the passenger wheel during its rotation, but may be omitted from the apparatus if preferred.

In operation, with the apparatus set up as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and as above described, the passengers board the apparatus by way of the ramp devices 80 and walk along the floor or platform 48 or side extensions of the same to enter the lowermost pair of seats 74 of the stationary wheel. The turntable including the platform 48 is of course stationary at this time also, there being suitable conventional brake means provided for the horizontal turntable and also for the passenger wheel.

When the seats 74 are loaded, two at a time, the motors 36 and 82 are started by the attendant and the passengers in the seats are subjected to two separate rotary motions simultaneously, because the passenger wheel will rotate about the axle 67 in a vertical plane, while the turntable construction, which mounts the passenger wheel simultaneously rotates about the axis of the vertical shaft 27. The platform 48 will rotate at this time, while the track 17 and underlying structure is stationary, along with the ramps 80. After a ride of the desired duration, the turntable is brought to rest with the platform 4-8 in alignment with the ramps 80, and the passenger wheel is likewise brought to rest and the seats are unloaded two at a time.

An: important feature of this invention resides in the manner of folding or collapsing the apparatus for transportation or storage. To do this, the seats 74 are first removed, and the rail sections 72 are detached at 73 from the spokes 69 and from each other. The pairs of spokes 69 on opposite sides of the pairs 69' may now be collapsed against the immovable pairs of spokes 69 having the two bolts 70' previously described. That is to say, the several pairs of spokes 69 may be swung about their inner pivots 70 into substantial parallelism with the intermediate immovable spokes 69, Figure 4. T he outer or free ends of the several pairs of spokes may now be secured together by any suitable tie means 87, as indicated in Figure 4.

The inclined braces 58 are nextdisconnected and removed, and the main superstructure including the legs 52 and 55 are ready for folding. The leg sections 55 are now disconnected at 57 from the fixed leg sections 50, and swung downwardly about their upper pivot-s 56 into substantial underlying relation to the legs 52. With the aid of the hydraulic jack devices 61, the legs 52 are now slowly lowered with the collapsed wheel structure including the discs 68 and associated parts still mounted thereon. When the legs 52 reach substantial horizontal positions, Figure 4, their upper ends engage short upright posts 88, rigidly secured to the tops of beams 25, near and inwardly of the leg sections 56, and the legs 52 are detachably secured in lowered positions to the posts 88 by bolt means 89, Figure 4. At this time, the leg sections 55 are disposed generally horizontally underneath the legs 52, Figure 4, and have their lower or free ends detachably secured at 90 to fixed brackets $1, likewise mounted upon the beams 25 near and inwardly of the jack devices 61. It should be noted that the drive units 81 and idler wheels remain attached to the respective legs 52 and 55 when the latter are collapsed, and the collapsed hydraulic jack devices 61 will now assume generally the positions indicated in Figure 4, and are disposed between the legs 52 and 55, and above the beams 25 and associated turntable parts.

The bolts 65 of the passenger wheel mounting brackets 64 may now be removed, and the brackets 64 may he slid longitudinally of the legs 52 from their positions in Figure l to those shown in Figure 4, wherein the brackets 64 and discs 68 are approximately at the longitudinal centers of the legs 52. This last adjustment of the brackets 64 centers the apparatus upon the trailer bed 15, as shown.

The arms 42 carrying the rollers 44 and the braces 21 and 45 are now removed from the assembly, and the track sections 18 are separated, and all of these mentioned parts along with the rail sections 72 may be placed upon the trailer bed 15, preferably beneath the platform constituted by the beams 25 and flooring 48, such platform extending longitudinally of the trailer bed 15. Any other small parts or incidentals may also be placed upon the trailer bed after the main structure is collapsed or folded as shown in Figure 4, and the apparatus is now ready for transportation or storage, and is contained on the trailer bed in a highly compact condition.

To set up the apparatus at a new site, substantially the reverse of the above folding operation takes place. The trailer bed is anchored and leveled, and the horizontal track 17 and the various braces 21, 42 and 45, as well as the associated jacks 20 are set up. The brackets 64 are now preferably returned to their normal positions near the extreme ends of the legs 52 and secured in i such positions by the bolts 65. The bolt means 89 and 90 are removed, and the jack devices 61 are operated for raising the legs 52 and all parts connected therewith to the position of Figure l. The braces 58 are then secured in place and the swingable leg sections 55 are connected at 57 to the leg sections 50. The spoke tying means 87 are removed, and the passenger carrying wheel is reconstructed by arranging the spokes as shown in Figure l and rc-establishing the connections at 73 between the spokes 69 and drive rail sections 72. The seats 74 are now assembled to the ends of the spokes, and the apparatus is again ready to operate in the manner previously described.

It is to be particularly noted that during the abovedescribed raising and lowering of the apparatus, the several drive units and 81 need not be moved or altered in any manner, and remain fixed relative to the members upon which they are bodily mounted. The device is simplified in construction, highly compact and embodies a minimum number of parts which are easy to manipulate. There is no heavy center column or tower present in the construction, and the simplified superstructure is very easy to elevate and lower.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A collapsible amusement ride apparatus comprising a primary supporting base, a horizontal turntable arranged above the supporting base, bearing means interconnecting the supporting base and turntable so that the turntable may rotate upon a vertical axis, a pair of short upwardly extending inclined legs fixedly mounted upon the turntable near one side of the same, a companion pair of relatively long legs having their lower ends pivotally secured to the turntable near the opposite side thereof and being vertically swingable and adapted to extend upwardly from the turntable in inclined converging relation to said pair of short legs, passenger wheel mounting brackets carried by the upper ends of said long legs, a pair of leg sections of intermediate length having their lower ends detachably secured to the tops of the short legs and their upper ends pivotally secured to said mounting brackets and constituting continuations of the short inclined legs and converging upwardly with the long legs when the amusement ride apparatus is in an erected operative condition, and a foldable passenger carrying wheel having a horizontal axle journaled for rotation in a vertical plane upon said mounting brackets and between said pairs of legs and leg sections, the arrangement being such that the ride apparatus may be readily collapsed so as to lie generally horizontally upon said turntable by first folding the passenger carrying wheel and then disconnecting the lower ends of said intermediate leg sections from said short legs and swinging the intermediate leg sections about their upper ends into underlying relation with the long legs and then swinging the long legs downwardly about their lower ends and toward said short legs.

2. A collapsible amusement ride apparatus comprising a p ary'supporting base, a turntable journaled upon the supporting base for rotation about a vertical 3 axis and being substantially horizontal, a pair of short inclined legs rigidly mounted upon the turntable near one side thereof and extending upwardly and inwardly, a pair of long legs arranged near the opposite side of the turntable and having their lower ends pivotally secured to the turntable and adapted to extend upwardly and inwardly in inclined converging relation with said short legs, a pair of leg sections of intermediate length having their lower ends detachably secured to the tops of said short legs and their upper ends pivotally secured to said long legs near the tops of the latter and forming continuations of the short legs'and being inclined and converging with the long legs when the ride apparatus is erected, bearing means rigidly secured to the long legs 1 near their upper ends, a horizontal axle journaled upon said bearing means for rotation and extending between said pairs of legs and leg sections, discs carried by said axle inwardly of said bearing means, circumferentially spaced pairs of radial spokes having their inner ends pivotally secured to said discs, a pair of annular rails including separable rail sections detachably connected with said spokes a substantial distance radially outwardly of said axle and serving to maintain said spokes in circumferentially spaced relation when the ride apparatus is erected, passenger carrying seats pivotally secured to said spokes radially outwardly of said rails, means to impart rotation to said rails about the axis of said horizontal axle, and means to turn said turntable.

3. A collapsible amusement ride apparatus comprising a primary horizontal supporting base, a horizontal turntable journaled upon the supporting base for rotation about a vertical axis, a spaced pair of inclined short legs rigidly mounted upon the turntable near one side thereof, a spaced pair of long legs having their lower ends pivotally secured to the turntable near the opposite side thereof and adapted to extend upwardly in inclined converging relation to said short legs, a pair of passenger wheel mounting brackets secured to the upper ends of the long legs and including bearing parts and connecting parts, detachable means for holding said mounting brackets in position at the upper ends of said long legs, a pair of spaced leg sections of intermediate length having their upper ends pivotally secured to said attaching parts and their lower ends detachably secured to the tops of said short legs and forming continuations of the short legs and being inclined and converging upwardly with said long legs, depending socket elements secured to said long legs near their upper ends and being downwardly opening when the ride apparatus is erected, a pair of side diagonal brace bars having their upper ends detachably engaging within the socket elements and their lower ends detachably secured to said turntable and located substantially ninety degrees circumferentially from said short and long legs, a horizontal axle journaled within said bearing parts for rotation, a foldable passenger carrying wheel mounted upon said axle for rotation in a vertical plane between said pairs of legs and leg sections, drive means to impart rotation to said passenger carrying wheel, and drive means to impart rotation to said turntable.

4. A collapsible amusement ride apparatus according to claim 3, and power means to elevate and lower said pair of long legs.

5. A collapsible amusement ride apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said passenger carrying wheel includes pairs of spaced discs secured to said axle inwardly of said mounting brackets, and spaced pairs of radial spokes having their inner ends pivotally secured between said discs.

6. A collapsible amusement ride apparatus comprising a primary horizontal base, a horizontal turntable rotatably mounted upon said base, a pair of fixed inclined short legs secured to said turntable at one side thereof, a pair of long legs having their lower ends pivoted to said turntable near the opposite side thereof and adapted to extend upwardly in inclined converging relation to said 9 short legs, passenger Wheel mounting brackets longitudinally adjustably secured to said long legs and including bearing parts and depending attaching parts, detachable bolt means for holding said mounting brackets near the tops of the long legs and permitting the mounting brackets when the bolt means are removed to be shifted along the long legs to points near the longitudinal centers thereof, a pair of leg sections of intermediate length having their upper ends pivotally secured to said depending attaching parts and their lower ends detachably secured to the tops of said short legs, said leg sections forming continuations of the short legs and disposed in inclined upwardly converging relation to the long legs when the ride apapratus is erected, fixed socket elements secured to the outer sides of the long legs near their upper ends and opening downwardly when the long legs are in their elevated positions, brace bars arranged midway between the long and short legs and having their upper ends detachably engaging within said socket elements and their lower ends detachably secured to said turntable near opposite sides of the same, a horizontal axle journaled upon said bearing parts of the mounting brackets and extending between the mounting brackets, discs secured to said axle inwardly of the mounting brackets, circumferentially spaced pairs of spokes having their inner ends pivotally secured to said discs, passenger seats pivotally secured between the pairs of spokes at the outer ends of the spokes, annular drive rails including separable sections detachably secured to the outer sides of the pairs ofspokes near and inwardly of said seats, friction drive units for said annular drive rails permanently mounted upon said long legs intermediate their ends, and separate drive means to impart rotation to said turntable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

